City Council explores possible changes to sanitation service

NEW ORLEANS - City Council members raised
concerns about the French Quarter's cleanliness and discussed possible citywide
changes to sanitation service during a budget hearing Wednesday.

Across
the Quarter Wednesday, trash sat piled up in some spots - something that
resident Steve Mallernee has noticed happening
more often.

"There's a little
more trash around," Mallernee said. "Not as much reinforcement of loose
trash."

And
the overall cleanliness of the city's most famous neighborhood has fallen off,
according to some City Council members.

"The French Quarter -
we've alluded to that, some of my colleagues - that it's just not up to par,"
said Council Vice President Stacey Head.

It
became a key point of discussion as the Council tackled next year's sanitation
budget. The city is negotiating a one-year contract extension with Progressive
Waste Solutions, which took over the French Quarter and CBD after buying SDT in
2011.

"I think that the one-year
extension is judicious, considering that the quality of service they're
providing us is not what it needs to be," Head said. "The French Quarter,
frankly, smells, and it shouldn't for the amount of money we're paying
them."

"We need better
services for less money there, so that's your challenge," said Council
President Jackie Clarkson.

But
Deputy Mayor Andy Kopplin said improvements are coming.

"Based on the
progress of our negotiations, we're going to get better services," he said. "We
have clear expectations."

But
some council members said citywide, too much money is going to sanitation, which
accounts for more $39 million of next year's proposed budget.

On
Wednesday, the council discussed the possibility of cutting trash pickups from
two times per week to one, citing other cities like Baltimore and Dallas that
have saved millions of dollars a year after making that move.

"Change is difficult for people, but we
have to help them to get there, because oftentimes - and I've heard this in
other places with regard to the one day pickup - it just changes the way people
deal with waste," said Councilwoman Susan Guidry.

As for the concerns
surrounding sanitation in the French Quarter, the city says it has secured $500,000
from the Convention Center to pay for more crews and equipment operators in
that area.